Packer for wells



Oct. 2, 1934. o. M. DAVIS PACKER FOR WELLS Filed May 21, 1932 Z/ 3 7 r 02 I n 4 1/ H 2 7/ E 6 7 2 n m z m Wk 6L 4 8 a a 7 f B 4 a "$9 ma z a&$ il M? m M w 0 0 p.

Patented Oct. 2, 1934 TATES PATENT orrice tllaims.

This invention relates to a packer for wells.

An object of the invention is to provide a packer of the character described that may be readily attached to a pipe and lowered into a well and 5 then expanded against an outer casing in the well, or against the walls of the bore to form a fluid tight joint between said pipe and the'casing or other walls of the well.

Another object is to provide a packer that may be used conveniently for forming a seal between the upper end or a screen or liner, in a well, and the lower end of the casing above.

Another object is to provide a packer that may be lowered into a well and set, or expanded, and

which may be readily released and relocated in,

or withdrawn from, the well.

With the above and other objects in view this invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrange- ZQ ment of parts an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:-

Figure 1 shows a vertical sectional view of the packer as used for packihig a well screen and in position to be expanded.

Figure 2 shows a vertical sectional view thereof in expanded position, showing also a releasing tool for releasing the packer.

Figure 3 shows a vertical sectional view of another form of the packer.

Figure 4 shows a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 shows a cross sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 2, and

Figure 6 shows a lower end view of the releasing tool, viewed as indicated by the line 6--6 of Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate 49 the same parts in each of the figures the numeral 1 designates a casing, or other wall of a well bore. In the form of packer shown in Figure 1 there is an outwardly threaded tubular nipple, or mandrel,

2 on which the expanslble packer sleeve'3 is mounted. This sleeve fits loosely over the threads of the nipple 2 and its upper and lower ends are outwardly flared. These flared ends are reinforced by means of series of outwardly curved, flat springs, as 4 to give the resilient material of the sleeve the required rigidityto hold it closely against the walls of the well when the sleeve is expanded.

Threaded onto the lower end of the nipple 2 there is a coupling 5 to which the screen, liner, or other pipe 6 beneath maybe attached. The

(Cl. Mid-N) upper end of the coupling 5 has the enlarged, upwardly tapering expander 7 thereon shaped to conform to the contour of, and to fit within the lower end of the packer sleeve 3. Threaded onto the nipple 1 above said packer sleeve there is a M downwardly tapering expander 8 which is shaped to conform to the contour of and to fit within the upper end of said sleeve 3.

The coupling 5 carries two series of slightly flexible anchor arms 9 and 10 which are securely at fastened to, and project outwardly from said coupling, and are of a length to fit closely within the casing 1. The arms of one series are directed in a direction the reverse of that of the other series of arms, and at their outer ends the arms have their upper and lower corners beveled oil, as shown.

In order to set and pack a screen or liner the screen to be set is attached to and suspended from the coupling 6 and a setting string 11 is at- M tached to'the upper end of the nipple 2 by means of a collar 12. As the-packer is lowered into the well the packer sleeve 3 is collapsed, the expanders 7, 8 being spaced therefrom. During the lowering operation the ends of the arms 9, 10 will ride against the inside of the casing, or walls of the bore, and the outer ends of these arms are beveled so that said arms will not hang in the joints between the casing sections in going in or coming out. -When the screen is set at the desired location the string 11 may be turned to the right, the arms 9 operating to hold the coupling 5 against turning. The upper face of the expander 8 has oppositely arranged, arcuate grooves 13, 13 therein which terminate at their ends in the shoulders 14, 15, and the lower end of the collar 12 has the oppositely arranged, forwardly spiralled spring dogs 16, 16. As the string 11 is so turned the collar 12 will be screwed down on the nipple 2 until the dogs 16 engage the shoulders 14, 15 and the expander 8 will be screwed down against, and into the upper end of, the packing sleeve 3. A continued rotation in the same direction will force the sleeve 3 downwardly relative to the nipple 2 until the lower expander '1 enters the lower end of said packing sleeve and as the rotation is continued, in the same direction the expanders will move toward each other and expand the sleeve 3 out against the casing, or other'wall of the well. The threaded connections between the nipple 1 and the coupling 5 the expanders '7 and 8 and the collar 12 are loose and it may be that the lower end of the nipple 2 will screw further down into the coupling 5 causing the expander '7 to abut the packing sleeve 3 before the collar 12 screws down to bring the dogs 16 into operative connection with the shoulders 14, as hereinabove explained, but in either event the packing sleeve will be expanded, or set.

The string 11 may then be rotated to the left and readily unscrewed from the upper end of the nipple 2 and withdrawn. The other series of dogs 10 will hold the coupling 5 stationary while the string is being detached.

In case it may be desired to collapse the packer and withdraw or relocate the same a collar 12 may be attached to the lower end of the string 11 and let down into the well and screwed onto the upper end of the nipple 2. The lower end of the collar 12' has the rearwardly spiralled spring dogs 16' thereon and said collar 12' may be screwed down until said dogs are placed under tension against the upper face of the expander 8 and the string 11 may then be reversed and said dogs will engage the shoulders 15 and back off the upper expander 8 to permit the packing sleeve 3 to collapse enough to clear the casing and the packer may then be withdrawn. The arms 10 will hold the coupling 5 stationary while the packer sleeve is being collapsed as above described.

In the form shown in Figure 3 the nipple 2 is outwardly threaded and screwed onto the upper and lower ends thereof are the external retaining rings 1'7, 18, the latter being screwed on with left hand threads. The lower and upper expanders 7' and 8' of this form are formed on the upper and lower ends of the respective couplings 19, 20. The ends of these couplings are counter-bored to receive the rings 18, 17 respectively, and forming the inside, annular shoulders 21, 22. The string 11, in this instance, is attached to the coupling 20, by an outside collar 23 and when the packer is assembled to be let down into the well the coupling 19 will be screwed downwardly and the coupling 20 will be screwed upwardly so that the expanders 7, 8' will clear the sleeve 3 so that said sleeve will not be expanded. As thus assembled the packer may be let down into the well and the string 11 turned to the right. The dogs 9 will hold the coupling 19 against turning and the expander 8 will be screwed down into the upper end of the sleeve 3 and said sleeve will be forced downwardly until its lower end is forced over the lower expander '7' and a further rotation of the string 11 will cause the desired expansion of the packer sleeve; or it may be that the nipple 2' will first screw down into the lower coupling 19 until the lower end of the sleeve 3 is forced over the expander '7' and the upper coupling 20 then screwed down until the upper expander 8 is forced into the upper end of said sleeve 3 toexpand the same. A fluid tight joint is thus formed between the walls of the well and the inner string 11 and the string 11 may then form a reduced outflow line to the ground surface which is often desirable in producing fluids from wells.

In case it may be desired to release the packer the string 11 may be turned to the left and the arms 10 will hold the coupling 19 stationary while the coupling 20 is being screwed up on the nipple 2 or the said nipple is being backed up through the coupling 19, or both, until the packer sleeve contracts enough to clear the casing or walls of the well. During this operation the rings 17, 18 will prevent the complete detachment of either coupling from the nipple 2'. The packer may now be withdrawn from the well or relocated and reset.

The drawing and description disclose what is now considered to be preferred forms of the invention by way of illustration only while the broad. principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A packer for wells comprising an outwardly threaded nipple, an expansible packing sleeve thereon whose ends are outwardly flared, a lower coupling threaded onto said nipple and whose upper end is formed into an expander beneath said sleeve,-means on said coupling engageable with the walls of a well to hold said coupling against rotation in either direction, an upper coupling threaded onto the upper end of the nipple and whose lower end is formed into an expander above said sleeve and outwardly curved flexible members embedded in the material of the sleeve at the ends thereof.

2. A packer for wells comprising an outwardly threaded nipple, an expansible packing sleeve thereon, a lower coupling threaded onto said nipple and whose upper end is formed into an expander beneath said sleeve, means on said coupling engageable with the walls of a well to hold said coupling against rotation in either direction, an upper coupling threaded onto the upper end of the nipple and whose lower end is formed into an expander above said sleeve, said couplings being adjustablealong said nipple, by their rotation relative to the nipple into and out of clamping relation with said sleeve whereby the sleeve may be expanded or permitted to contract.

3. A packer for wells comprising an outwardly threaded nipple, an expansible packing sleeve thereon, a lower couplingthreaded onto said nipple and whose upper end is formed into an expander beneath said sleeve means on said coupling engageable with the walls of a well to hold said coupling against rotation in either direction, an upper coupling threaded onto the upper end of the nipple and whose lower end is formed into an expander above said sleeve, said couplings being adjustable along said nipple, by their rotation relative to the nipple into and out of clamping relation with said sleeve whereby the sleeve may be expanded or permitted to contract, and means preventing the detachment of the couplings. from said nipple.

4. A packer for wells comprising an outwardly threaded nipple, an expansible packing sleeve thereon, a lower coupling member threaded onto said nipple and whose upper end forms an expander beneath the sleeve, means on said coupling engageable with the wall of the well to hold said coupling against rotation in either direction, an upper coupling threaded onto the upper end .of the nipple, an expander adjacent the lower end of said upper coupling, said couplings being adjustable along said nipple by their rotation relative to the nipple into and out of clamping relation with the sleeve whereby the sleeve may be expanded or permitted to contract.

OSCAR M. DAVIS. 

